Can I Get a Witness?

The television network NBC produces an intriguing show that has been running for 25 years now.

Do you know which one it is?

From the time I was an awkward teenager in the early 90s to this very day, the haunting sound track behind Keith Morrison’s grim narratives has sent chills down my spine. One of my husband’s favorite shows, “Dateline”, enables him to follow the path of a real-life crime investigator through the unexpected twists and turns of a case. Often, they will feature a cold-case that has gone unsolved for many years.

Testimonies on Trial

J. Warner Wallace has made several appearances on the show as a cold-case homicide detective. You may have also seen one of his cases on CourtTV or FOX News. He has been an investigator for 21 years, specializing in homicides for 16 of them and founding a cold-case unit in his department. He earned national recognition for his work, receiving a Sustained Superiority Award and winning the 2015 California Peace Officer Association Award for best solved cold case.

For 35 years, he was also a conscientious and very vocal atheist. He was passionate about opposing the Bible and would often engage Christians in debate. As he grew to be an expert in his profession, he was confident that he could prove the inaccuracy of the eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ life written in the gospels. Instead of confirming his doubts, he discovered that Christianity was convincing, difficult to deny, and verifiably true. A new-found faith encouraged him to apply his life’s work to Christian apologetics. His most popular book, Cold-Case Christianity, explains the principles of homicide cases and uses them to investigate the claims of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Be My Witnesses

The last 27 books of the Bible are known as the New Testament. The word “testament” is defined as something that serves as a sign or evidence of a specified fact, event or quality. In court, someone can share what they witnessed, and we say that they “testified to the fact”. We call their word a testimony of what happened. The disciples that were following Christ wrote their testimonies down, and to this day, they have brought innumerable people to the understanding that Jesus Christ was fully God, fully man and sits, resurrected, beside Him now.

“This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.” John 1:7

And that’s what the disciples did. They followed Christ’s final instructions before he left Earth.

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

A testimony is powerful. Not only do we see that through the gospels, but we see in our everyday life what capability it has. The verdict of a guilty sentence can be based on what someone says. A majority of news reports out there today are based on what someone says. Most of all, people want to know what happened. People want to know the truth.

And at the end of it all, there are only two things specified in the book of Revelation that will enable Christians to overcome the power of Satan here on earth.

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” Revelation 12:11

To these Christians, what other people think won’t be important. They know that their message has greater power than the power of popular opinion.

And it does.

Because we choose to follow Christ, and the end of it all has not yet come, we have a part in this powerful message. We can overcome the lies and cut through the illusions with the truth.

This Little Light of Mine…

Last week, I was out with a dear friend when I asked, “When was the last time you heard someone give a testimony at church?” She couldn’t remember and neither could I.

The most memorable ones I have heard were at women’s retreats. Sometimes I had no idea what the speaker’s past was like. As she would explain unimaginable challenges she faced in her life, I would gape at the completely different person standing before me.

What most people don’t realize is that there are different ways to testify of God’s impact on your life. Sure, most of us can share the miraculous intervention of the Spirit in our life and the day we decided to give our lives to following Him. For most, that is an extremely influential story.

For others, the impact may come from a simple story of the way in which God has worked in a life, continuing to guide, lead, encourage, mold or shape us into living like Jesus.

What amazing work have you seen God do in your past, or even lately? The opportunity to share with others the truth about who God is can be the greatest privilege a Christian has. You have the chance to remind others of the immeasurable love our dear Father surrounds us with every day.

Will you take a moment right now and share something in the comments below?

What is your testimony (past or present)? How can you testify to the fact that God is good?

“You are My witnesses,” says the Lord,
“And My servant whom I have chosen,
That you may know and believe Me,
And understand that I am He.
Before Me there was no God formed,
Nor shall there be after Me.I, even I, am the Lord,
And besides Me there is no savior.
I have declared and saved,
I have proclaimed,
And there was no foreign god among you;
Therefore you are My witnesses,”
Says the Lord, “that I am God.” Isaiah 43:10-12

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4 thoughts on “Can I Get a Witness?”

Cindy Quigleysays:

My testimony- I grew up in a Christian home, and was raised to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I accepted Jesus at a young age, and fell deeply in love with Him. I would boldly sing praises to Him on my backyard swing set, and opened up others in my family and neighbors ,to hear about Jesus. I loved singing to Jesus, and made many tapes with my dad, singing praises to the Lord. I began to grow in my knowledge of Bible stories at church, and became more familiar with the Bible, memorizing Scripture verses and Psalms. But I still longed to go deeper with God in my understanding of His Word. I joined a church plant and began to expand my horizons, as I began to disciple others, becoming actively involved in Bible studies and out reaches that this church offered. It was also during this time that I began to write poetry and a couple of songs to the Lord myGod, and looked deeply within as my roots in the Lord grew deeper still. It was this curiosity and perseverance within me, that drew me to Hebraic studies. In this I discovered the unity of the Scriptures, deeper meaning of Scriptural,passages, and I made some amazing Scriptural connections, thanks to the Lord’s leading and guiding in my life. I continue to be amazed at what the Lord continues to teach me through the Scriptures.

As you were sharing, I could visualize a young curly-haired girl singing sweet songs to God. That was one way I experienced the filling of the Spirit as a girl, wandering the fields singing to Him. Thank you for sharing, Cindy.

Thanks for sharing. What a great post!
I am a person who can get easily overwhelmed. This past summer, while prayng and worshipping God I was impressed to look at my life and forgive some people in my life. The Lord showed me that these instances have kept me bound up for over 7 years! When I repented and asked for forgiveness I knew freedom was upon me. Since then I have been more aware of my surroundings and more attentive to other’s needs.